Grinding of particle-reinforced metal matrix composite materials: current status and prospects

Particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PMMCs) exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, rendering them highly promising for extensive applications in aerospace, military, automotive, and other critical sectors. The distinct physical properties of the matrix and reinforcement result in a poor machining performance, particularly owing to the continuous increase in the particle content of the reinforcement phase. This has become a major obstacle in achieving the efficient and precise machining of PMMCs. The grinding process, which is a highly precise machining method, has been extensively employed to achieve precision machining of metal matrix composites. Firstly, the classification of PMMCs is presented, and the grinding removal mechanism of this material is elaborated. Recent studies have examined the impact of various factors on the grinding performance, including the grinding force, grinding temperature, grinding force ratio, specific grinding energy, surface integrity, and wheel wear. The application status of various grinding methods for PMMCs is also summarized. Finally, the difficulties and challenges in achieving high-efficiency precision grinding technology for PMMCs are summarized and discussed.